QEW Fall Gathering 2026 (In Person)

We are grateful that we will be able to hold our gathering at the Prairiewoods Franciscan Spirituality Center in Iowa this year, and we look forward to seeing you there!

This Fall, our community will gather around the theme "The Fires that Renew." The world we face in 2026 is too often consumed by destructive forces. Both literal and metaphorical, we face renewed firestorms in the natural world from decades of mismanagement to the growing heat waves of climate change. Yet we also face a great firestorm in our global political conflicts and the reckless race for global dominance in technology, economy, and power. Yet this is not the only kind of fire.

Just as the very Iowa prairie hosting us is built to reset, adapt, and grow back from deep roots after a fire, we too are called to look for models of resilience. As any good tender of fire adapted soils, we are called to cast our seed for a new tomorrow. We are called to fill the seedbank with hope. Beyond those fires that destroy by consuming their own fuel, there is an inward fire a fire of the Spirit, that burns and creates without consuming. Like Moses recognizing the Sacred Presence in a burning bush, or the autumn trees glowing with light from an October Sun, we will gather to remember that all ground is holy, and that the fires we face are not just an ending but a beginning. Come to tend this inward fire within yourself as we awaken to one another and the calling within.

Gathering Details:

• Arrival: Participants can begin arriving on Thursday, October 15th at 1:00 PM.

• Programming: Begins Thursday at 4:00 PM and concludes after lunch on Saturday, October 17th.

• Who is Invited: All are welcome to this retreat to build community, get to know QEW, deepen our connection with Earth and self, and strengthen our collective witness for the community of Life.

Registration Deadline: Please register by September 30th at the latest.

If you are registering after that date, you will need to receive a double confirmation. The automatic reply email does not guarantee space, but confirms we received your request. You will receive a personal follow-up email if a room is available for you.

This is the registration form for the in-person meeting. If you plan to attend virtually, please click here.